David Gelernter on American culture, computer science, and art

I don't put a lot of weight in the predictions of someone who doesn't know how IQ works.

Posted by Tim at July 22, 2015 2:26 PM

Tim - Whether one calls it IQ or not isn't the issue. Yes, I know IQ is probably meaningless beyond about 190 and probably before then; but the essential point is that improving human processing capacity and/or memory storage may well be feasible and will make a huge difference if it is.

Someone carrying a smartphone with an internet connection is, all other things being equal, more capable than someone without. I have a free app on mine that will solve systems of 6-7 simultaneous equations in an eyeblink; of course, feeding it in takes a lot longer.

Now imagine all that stuff connected via a direct neural interface...

Posted by Fletcher Christian at July 22, 2015 3:52 PM

"IQ" is software.

The more Core Truths (that are classic, timeless & universal) that an individual embraces, the more 'smart' the person is.

Simple as that.

Even then, to force the creativity of the 'genius' into the preferred direction of these trans-humanists will be as successful as transplanting Wild flowers (not real good) as 'genius' is capricious and unduplicatible.

To call 'genius' a hardware structure that can be altered by genetic manipulation is, logically, a path to ruin.

Chilling.

Posted by cond0011 at July 22, 2015 4:14 PM

"I think there is a question whether art can exist without religion. Artists have always been either deeply religious or deeply atheistic. "

Though it may not necessarily start as such, it inevitably is a road that leads to God (even those railing against God - the atheists).

Classic, Timeless Art is communication through the prism of love and the palette that is used are all of the 6 senses: Sight, Scent, Sound, Taste, Touch & Thought, with the guiding hand of the soul known as 'heart'.

Whether it is the acclaimed art of painting, sculpting, music, literature, poetry or unacknowledged art such a recipe (cooking), an invention, and various Research Breakthroughs each of them creates something unique never seen before in this world - truly 'Spiritual Children' with a lifespan that could last centuries, if not forever.

β€œHe who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

~St. Francis of Assisi

Posted by cond0011 at July 22, 2015 4:51 PM

Zager and Evans covered this about 50 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQB2-Kmiic

Posted by ghostsniper at July 22, 2015 5:30 PM

Idiocracy is far more likely than super genius.

Posted by Fat Man at July 22, 2015 7:37 PM

The greatest irony of mankind will be that his greatest achievement will also be his demise – technology.

#houseplantsarepeopletoo

Posted by tim at July 23, 2015 12:02 PM

Gelernter is talking out of his ass. IQ of 500, IQ of 10,000, what a crock.
Wisdom is the knowledge of right and wrong, coupled with right action.
High IQ doesn't matter a fig if you're a fool.

Posted by Speller at July 24, 2015 11:34 PM

Why don't we give this a try?
FFXIV http://n4g.com/user/home/ff14store

Posted by FFXIV at August 3, 2015 12:04 PM